Max Holloway heaps praise on Justin Gaethje's UFC performance: 'What a demon'

Justin Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria at UFC Casa Branca . Photo: UFC News / X

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Max Holloway was impressed by Justin Gaethje 's victory at UFC Casa Branca . The American defeated Ilia Topuria in the main event, held on June 14th, despite being considered a big underdog, a feat that did not go unnoticed by the Hawaiian.

In an interview with MMA Fighting, Holloway highlighted the surprising nature of the result and emphasized how the sport often defies predictions considered almost certain. For the former champion, seeing a fighter overcome such unfavorable expectations reinforces the unpredictability of MMA.

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"It was crazy to see (Gaethje's victory), it's always crazy to see when someone in sports has that, it's always crazy to see, people think it's impossible to beat him and then someone comes along and does it," said Max Holloway.

Furthermore, Holloway praised Gaethje's strategic performance, stating that the American followed the game plan to the letter, knew how to calculate the risks, and was rewarded for it. The Hawaiian also highlighted the resilience shown during the fight, especially in enduring hard blows to the midsection.

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“Congratulations to Justin, he stuck to his game plan. He was really smart, he calculated the risk and it paid off. And even surviving, surviving those body blows, what a demon, man. What a demon,” concluded the Hawaiian.

Justin Gaethje transformed Ilia Topuria's face at UFC Casa Branca

Topuria was punished by Gaethje in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFC

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After a balanced first round, Ilia Topuria returned for the second determined to justify his five-to-one odds against Justin Gaethje at UFC Casa Branca . Despite landing some good strikes and coming close to finishing the fight, the American held on, and the Spaniard returned for the third round already showing clear signs of fatigue.

With Topuria slowing down, Gaethje began to find his range with precise jabs and even managed to stagger the former champion with a powerful straight punch. Gradually, the Spaniard's face became deformed from the accumulated damage, until, in the break between the fourth and fifth rounds, his team opted to stop the fight.

After the fight, it was confirmed that Topuria suffered fractures to the orbital bones of her face and to her nose.